Salt attachment for icing machines



May 12, 1953 H. o. MCLAIN SALT ATTACHMENT FOR ICING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1950 INVENTOR. HaroldO/Valain, BYE Q I May 12, 1953 H. o. MOLAIN SALT ATTACHMENT FOR ICING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Han; [Li OMZQL' Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to ice servicing machines for icing or servicing refrigerator cars, but more particularly to a salt supplying attachment or trailer for an icing or ice servicing machine so as to furnish the proper or regulated amount of salt with the crushed ice when the same is required.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of a salt supplying device or salt supplying attachment for refrigerator car icing machine which is not only simple in construc tion, but which may be readily atached to or connected in such a manner as to be actuated by the icing machine and controlled therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved salt supply attachment for an icing machine having means associated there with and controlled from the icing machine for supplying a predetermined amount of salt with the crushed ice of the icing machine.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and an arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a fragmentary portion of a refrigerator car ice servicing machine showing the manner in which my improved salt .7

supply trailer attachment may be connected thereto; 7

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the lines 2-2 in Fig. l; v,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown in'Figl;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the same;

and

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the motors and the means for driving the salt conveyor.

In illustrating one adaptation of my invention, I have shown the same in connection with a selfpropelled refrigerator car icing machine of the construction disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 53,105, filed October 6, 19 8, now

Patent No. 2,587,872, March 4:, 1952, on Icing Machine. A fragmentary portion of this icing machine is shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings and comprises briefly a longitudinally extending main frame In. The opposite ends of the main frame I0 are supported on suitable front and rear sets of transversely extending truck frames, generally indicated by the reference character I i (only one of is shown in the drawings).

Each of these truck frames comprises transverse spaced apart channel members 12, vertical spaced .apart channel members l3 and horizontally ex tending and laterally spaced apart tracks I6.

Mounted on the main frame is an ice crusher and breaker mechanism, generally indicated by the reference character 11. A horizontally and transversely extending conveyor (not shown) is mounted between 'the channel members I2 for conveying the crushed ice from the ice crusher and breaker mechanism l1 laterally in either direction to oppositely disposed ice chutes, generally indicated by the reference character l8. These chutes are vertically adjustable and are for the purpose of discharging the crushed ice laterally into the hoppers or bunkers located in the opposite ends of the refrigerator cars.

The icing machine is provided with an operators station or platform, generally indicated by the reference character [8, from where the control and operation of the unit or the operating elements thereof, as well as the operation of the salt supplying mechanism may be controlled.

My improved salt supplyingv attachment is adapted to be used in connection with an icing machine of the type described and for a more detailed description of the same, reference to the previously mentioned co-pending application may be had. The salt supplying attachment, of course, is especially adapted for this particular machine and controls for the salt supplying attachment are located within easy reach of the operator on the icing machine. The salt attachment may be used in connection with other forms or types of icing machines with very little, if any, modification.

My salt supplying attachment in this instance comprises a trailer-like wheeled frame and in- .cludes two longitudinallyextending and spaced apart channel members 1.9 which have their opposite ends connected together by transverse channel members 20. Depending from the opposite ends of each of the channel members 20 and secured to the opposite channel members l9 are vertically depending pairs of channel members 2|. Positioned below each of the channel members 20 and having their opposite ends securedtothe opposite vertical channel members 2l,.are supplemental channel members 22. Se cured to the lower ends of each of the vertically spaced pairs of channel members 21 are horizontally positioned spaced apart channel members 23 between which are horizontally'spaced grooved truck wheels 24 which are adapted to engage and ride upon the opposite tracks l6. The wheeled truck frames are reinforced or braced to the transverse frame members 20 by suitable angle members 25. The salt trailer is attached to the self-propelled icing machine I! by two laterally spaced lowered draft bars or members 26 and a single central upper draft member 25.

Located in the longitudinal center of the trailer frame and between the spaced apart and transversely extending channel members 20 is a salt hopper, generally indicated bythe reference character 25. square in cross section and includes four vertically extending opposite side and end walls 21, the vertical edges of which are connected to yer-- tically extending angles 28 to form the corners and reinforce the side and end walls. The'lower portion of the hopper 26 is flividedinthe -long'i tudinal center thereof by oppositely .inclined sloping surfaces or bottom sections 29 with their The hopper 26 is substantially operatively connected by a coupling member 50 to operatively drive a worm, generally indicated by the reference character 5|. The worm and worm shaft is supported in suitable bearings on the opposite sides of each of the conveyor troughs 34. The worm 5| is geared to a worm wheel, generally indicated by the reference character 52, which, in turn, is secured to the inner end .of each of theshafts 3,9-of theconveyor.

Each of the electric motors 49 is provided with suitable wiring connections (not shown). These Jnotors are connected to separate and independent time switches, generally indicated by the ref- :er'ence charactersfl and 54, which are mounted adjacent the'operators station ii! of the icing machine so that easy access to the operation and :controlof the salt supplying attachment may be upper or converging portions terminating in a division or apex .j3 il located at a-slight elevation abovethe lower fportion of the hopper. 'The other portions of the bottomof the hopper, as shown at3l, converge inwardly to form funnellike constructions terminating in circular salt .discharge openings'32 oneach side of the division wall or apex 39. 'Connnected to these funneljlikeportions of the hopper 2% 'in-alignmentwith chutes l8so as to discharge the salt into the ice 4.0

chutes at thesame time the chutes are discharging' the crushed ice into the hoppers of the refrigerator cars. Each of the chutes 34'comp'rises opposite sidewalls 35 and a bottom 3E Mounted in each of'the troughs and secured therein is a semi-circular metal trough 31. mounted 'within the trough 37 is a screw eonveyor 38. The screw conveyor3-8 'is secured to -a shaft 39 which has-its outer end journaled in a bearing bracket, generally indicated by the reference character 40. The inner endof each of -the shafts 39 is ,journaled in 'an end bearing plate 4| which, in' turn, conforms to and is secured to "the inner end of each of "the troughs 34. The

generally indicated by the reference character 45, Each of the base supports'46, in turn, is secured 'to diagonally supported supplemental frame member 4 1 which has its-outer end secured to-one of the channel members 20 and its inner endsecured to alongitudinally extending suppler'nental frame member 48. The opposite ends jo f'the supplemental frame member 48 are secured ftdthe' opposite members '28 of the mainframe. Mounted on 'the'top surfaoe'of each of the brackets-'42 is an electric motor which, turn, is s7 Rotatably had from the icing machine. The time switches '53 and '54 are of the conventional construction except that they are calibrated in pounds of salt so that the opera'tonmay*setthediakof the switch to any predetermined amount'of salt and upon each actuation of "the :push button, the amount of salt previously set will automatically be measured and discharged by the conveyor :into the crushed ice chute.

From the above descriptionJit will .be seen-that the inner end 01 the conveyor trough 34 and its driving 'motor 49 is =pivotally attached through the medium of the shaft 44to=the bearings '45- so that the 'outer 'free end of each of the conveyor troughs '34 may be raised or lowered with respect to the ice chutes 18 :so as to properlyadjust each of these troug'hs with respect to =their;respect ive chutes =in'the'functioniof delivering salt into these chutes "as the crushed iiceis being {discharged into the hoppers :of the refrigerator cars. :At the same time, manually :controlledsmeans or mechanical or hydraulically operated :means may be connected to the outerrendsldf these troughs gfor :rais. ing them to inoperative 11305111101101 the position shown inFigJB when it is desirable to raiseeither one or both of "the ice chutes I 8. The -operation of all of *thESBiCOIIbI'OlS are operable by the operator'on the operatoriszstation .13.

In this connection it will also be noted'that-time switches 53 and 54 are operatively connected with each .of the .motors 49 and =controlled :from the operators platform on :the icing machine; so that a pre-determined or measured amountoi salt maybe discharged .into (the crushed ice being discharged so as to satisfy the requirements --'of the particular perishable goods being iced in the refrigerator cars.

Summarizing the advantages and functions of operation of my improved salt supplying attach,- ment for icing :machines, it will be-readily seen that I have provided a very simple, compact-and efficiently operated device which .is not only adaptedto be .usedas an attachment fora variety of icing machines, but will also permit the adjustment of the conveyor troughs in conformity with the requirements and operation of the icing machine and-at the same time will supply a predetermined measured amount of salt according to the requirements and also permit these adjjustmentstand control of the operation from the operator's platform on the icing machine.

While in the above specification I have de scribed one embodiment which my invention may assume .in practice, it will, of course, be under- :stood that the same is capable of modification and that modification may he made without departing from the spirit and scope of the-invention-as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a refrigerator car icing machine having an ice crushing mechanism and laterally projecting chutes for discharging crushed ice into the hoppers of refrigerator cars, of a salt supplying attachment operatively connected to and located rearwardly of said machine including a frame, a salt hopper supported on said frame, oppositely disposed conveyor troughs pivoted to said frame and having their salt receiving ends positioned below the hopper and their outer ends positioned over the opposite chutes, screw conveyors mounted in each of said troughs, and separate motors mounted on each of said troughs and pivoted to said frame and operatively connected to the respective screw conveyors for driving the same.

2. The combination with a refrigerator car icing machine having an ice crushing mechanism and laterally projecting chutes for discharging crushed ice into the hoppers of refrigerator cars, of a salt supplying attachment operatively connected to said machine including a frame, a salt hopper supported on said frame, oppositely and outwardly diverging conveyor troughs pivoted to said frame and having their salt receiving ends positioned below the hopper and their outer ends positioned over the opposite chutes, screw conveyors mounted in each of said troughs, and separate motors mounted on each of said troughs and pivoted to said frame on axes common with the pivot of said troughs, said motors being operatively connected to the respective screw conveyors for driving the same.

3. The combination with a refrigerator car icing machine having an ice crushing mechanism and laterally projecting chutes for discharging crushed ice into the hoppers of refrigerator cars, of a salt supplying attachment operatively connected to said machine including a frame, a salt hopper supported on said frame, oppositely disposed and outwardly diverging conveyor troughs pivoted to said frame and having their salt receiving ends positioned below the hopper and their outer ends positioned over the opposite chutes, screw conveyors mounted in each of said troughs, and separate motors mounted on each of said troughs and operatively connected to the respective screw conveyors for driving the same.

4. The combination with a refrigerator car icing machine having an ice crushing mechanism, a laterally projecting chute for discharging crushed ice laterally from the crushing mechanism, of a salt supplying trailer attached to and propelled by the icing machine, said trailer including a frame, a salt hopper mounted on said frame, a salt conveyor trough pivoted to said frame at a point below the hopper and having its outer end positioned over said chute, a screw conveyor journaled in said trough, and a motor supported on the pivot of said trough and operatively connected. to said screw conveyor for operatively driving the same.

HAROLD O. MCLAIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 739,962 Werner Sept. 29, 1903 1,247,575 Pratt Nov. 20, 1917 1,506,907 Jackson Sept, 2, 1924 2,243,114 Ness et al May 27, 1941 2,544,431 McLain et a1 Mar. 6, 1951 

